Cartons



@ci. 15, 1957 J. DAVIDSON 5 9 CARTONS Filed Sept. 13, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WWW:

INVEN TOR.

BRUCE .J.DAVIDSON ATTORNEY B. J. DAV DSON Oct 5 1957 CA TONS 5 Sheets-S eet 2 Filed Sept. 13, 1951 WHHHHHH.

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00k. 15, 1957 B. J. DAVIDSON 2,809,777

CARTONS W .32 43 27 I I 6, In, A F i@ RZQ G 4 & 0 I

JNVENTOR. BRUCE J. DAVIDSON ATTOR NEY United States Patent Qfiice 2,809,777 Patented Oct. 15, 1957 CARTGNS Bruce J. Davidson, Sands Point, N. Y., assignor to Natienal Biscuit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New .lersey Application September 13, 1951, Serial No. 246,447

13 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) This invention relates to cartons, and more particularly to the closures therefor to protect perishable goods such as bakery products, cereals and the like. Such products, in many instances, have been distributed by manufacturers in sealed packages of the reclosable type which the ultimate consumer may open and close accord ing to his needs. The closure means of existing reclosable type cartons, however, have invariably weakened the carton structure to such a serious extent that the contents of such cartons have been broken during storage and transportation, and the losses incurred have been serious enough to discourage the use of the cartons.

Existing closures for cartons of the reclosable types usually consist of a tongue defined by two slits cut in the center of the top of the front panel, and a slit in the tuck panel to receive the tongue when the carton is closed. Any substantial weight which may subsequently be placed upon the top panel of the closed carton will act upon the base of the tongue, causing it to collapse inwardly, thus permitting the top panel to sag and rest upon the underlying contents.

The present invention in its broader aspects relates to forming a carton from a single blank, and to providing means for effectively reclosing the carton after it has been opened by the consumer. To this latter end, means is provided for automatically interlocking the cover with the carton body when the cover is closed initially or reclosed after once being opened, While at the same time and in contrast With existing closures, providing effective support for the top panel over the area comprising the closure structure.

More specifically, according to the present invention, a carton is provided having a closure which is characterized not only by the ease and facility with which it may be reclosed and locked in closed condition but, equally of importance, it provides a special support for the top panel in the direction of external forces, as for example, forces caused by other cartons which may be stacked thereon. To this end, the upper edge of the front carton panel is provided with two opposed, spacedapart tongues which cooperate with corresponding tonguereceiving slots with contiguous depressable wings formed in a tuck fiap attached to the cover of the carton. Each tongue is formed with a square, leading corner and horizontal top edge which enters the tongue-receiving slots and extends directly up to the undersurface of the top panel. Merely a slight inward pressure of the thumb upon the upper edge of the front panel of the carton is suliicient to engage or disengage the interlocking parts. The design of the locking elements is such that they are protected from injury and breakage, and they do not protrude beyond the general exterior of the carton walls, thus preventing engagement with adjacent cartons during handling and shipment. The tongue and slots are also formed so that the bottom edges of the tongues interlock with and rest upon the tuck flap at the lower extremity of the respective slot, which forms an unyielding vertical support for the tongues. The design tends also to prevent spreading of the locking tongues and hence, the cover and side flaps, preventing any side opening thereof through which the contents might spill or flies or other contamination might enter.

One important feature of the present invention is the location of the original sealing element on the carton closure where it can be broken by severing or tearing Without destroying the interlocking elements referred to. The interlocking elements form a part of the original closure lock and are ready for effective use as soon as the seal of the carton has been broken.

A further feature resides in the overall configuration of the carton blank which incorporates the improved locking elements, whereby in the erection of the carton existing machinery can be employed without alteration.

The invention is not limited to one type of carton but may be adapted to various types of containers and cartons. The embodiments which will be described in the detailed description to follow and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are merely by way of example, and are not to be considered in a limiting sense.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, but obviously many modifications and variations may be made therein, and in its mode of application, which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the carton in erected condition, showing the cover panel in its open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation, showing in detail the locking elements of the cover tuck flap and the front carton panel in an unlocked position;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view, partially broken away, of the carton in erected condition, showing the cover panel in its closed position with the locking elements interlocked;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the cover tuck flap and front carton panel details of Fig. 2 in closed interlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a view of the blank from which the carton is erected, the view illustrating the side of the blank which will form the exterior of the carton after erection;

Fig. 5A is a cross section of the upper portion of the carton taken on the line 5A5A of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view on the section line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view on section line 77 of Fig. 3, showing the carton cover closed and interlocked with the front panel;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a tuck flap and front panel of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing another modification whereby a sealing tab is introduced to seal the carton; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing still another modification of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a carton blank 1 after it has been die cut and prior to being erected. The blank 1 may be stamped from any of a wide range of carton-making materials such as paperboard, fibreboard, and the like, and comprises four main panels defined by vertical score lines 2, 3 and 4, viz: a front panel 5, a back panel 6, and side panels 7 and S. The carton blank also includes a cover panel 10, and top side flaps 11 and 12 hinged to the top edges of the side panels 7 and 8, re-- spectively, and defined by score lines 13 and 14. Hinged to the bottom edges of the side panels 7 and 8 and defined by score lines 15 and 16, respectively, are bottom side flaps 17 and 13. A score line 20, extending from the inner edges of side flaps 17 and 18 defines a bottom flap 2]. hinged .to th'e back panel 6. A score line 22 defines a bottom flap 23 hinged to the bottom edge of the front panel 5. Another score line 24, near the free edge of the front panel and extending vertically from the bottom to the top edge of the front panel, lays off a narrow rectangular area 2 5 which, as shown in Fig. 5, is coated with an adhesive on the outer surface thereof. The cover panel 19 is hingedly connected to the back panel 6 along the top edge thereof by a score line 26 which extends across the entire width of the panel.

A tuck flap 27 is formed at the free front end of the cover panel 1% and-is defined by a score line 23 and, except for two short interruptions which will be referred to hereinafter, extends across the entire width of the panel parallel with the free edge thereof. Two wing members 39 and 31 are partially formed in the tuck flap 27 by diagonal slots 32 and 33 (Fig. 2) which converge towards the free edge of the tuck flap. The formation of the wings is completed by subcuts 34, 35, and 37 (Figs. 2 and 5) which extend arcuately and inwardly from the ends of the slots. A short score line 33 is formed in the tuck fiap to connect sub-cuts 34 and 35, and a score line 48 connects sub-cuts 36 and 37, both of which score lines are parallel with the slots 32, 33, and constitute hinges for respective wings 3i and 31. Thus it will be seen that each of the wings 3d and 31 is capable of a slight swinging movement about the hinge formed by its respective score line.

The upper end of each of the wings 3t) and 31 terminates at the inner edge of the tuck flap 27, intersecting the score line 28. At these two points of intersection, the scoring is interrupted, as best ,shown in Figs. 2 and 8 to ll. The slots 32 and 33 and the Wings 319 and 31 constitute the part of the interlocking elements carried by the cover.

That part of the interlocking elements carried by the carton body is located in the front panel 5, and is formed by a rectangular recess 41 (Fig. 2) which is cut into the carton blank 4 at the top edge of the panel 5. Preferably, its sides 42 and taper or converge downwardly the full distance from the top edge of the panel to the bottom of the recess. An undercut is formed at the bottom of the recess 41 by cutting slots 44 and 45 extending to the left and right, respectively, beyond the sides of the recess and parallel to the top edge of the front panel 5, forming thereby two flexible locking tabs 46 and 4 7, respectively, adapted to in the slots 32 and 33 and extend up to and provide support for the top panel 39 when in locked condition. 7

The bottom flap 21 is provided with a pair of locking tongues 43 and 5t, and its companion flap 23 is formed to provide tongue engaging slots 51 and 52 in which the tongues 43 and 59 respectively of flap 21 are insertable when the carton is erected. Tongues 48 and 50. and slots 51 and 52 may be of any standard shape'or form inasmuch as the invention does not reside in the design of the bottom closure or in the locking elements therefor.

To assemble the carton, the blank 1 is folded to rectangular cross section with the glue strip 25 underlying the side panel 3, the. latter seating upon the adhesively coated surface of the glue strip. The folded blank is then held under pressure in a standard carton forming machine to secure the side panel 3 to the glue strip 25. The bottom side flaps 17 and 13 are then folded inwardly toward each other after which the outer flaps 21 and 23 are folded and locked by means of the locking tongues 48 and 56 and the corresponding slots 51 and 52. The car- 'ton is now erected and ready for filling or insertion of the merchandise.

After the carton has beenfilled, the top side flaps 11 and 12 are folded inwardly toward one another and the top panel 10 is folded at its score line 26 (Fig. 6) and swung downwardly over the side flaps 11 and 12. The tuck flap 27 is bent at its score line 28 substantially at a right angle to the panel 10 and the free end of the tuck flap is inserted between the rear side of the front panel 5 and the front edges of the side flaps 11 and 12. As the tuck flap 27 moves downwardly toward its fully seated position as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, the upper corners of the locking tabs 46 and 47 exert pressure upon the correspondingly wings 3 and 31, respectively, sufiicient to pushthe wings inwardly. The slots 32 and 33 are then fully exposed to permit the upper corners of the locking tabs 46 and 47 to enter behind the tuck flap. In their fully seated position, the free ends of the locking tabs 46 and 47 will have entered the slots 32 and 33 completely, the top edges of the tabs 46 and 47 bearing against the undersurface of the top panel 10 (Fig. 4) and the bottom edges of the locking tabs 46 and 47 being bent inwardly to a-slight degree and overlying the surfaces of the tuck flap 27 formed by the subcuts 35 and 37. In this position the cover 10 is held positively in locked engagement with the front panel 5. in addition, the cover panel 10 is directly supported under its front edge by the tongues 46 and 47 so that downward pressure upon the cover panel is transmitted and distributed thru the tuck flap 2'7 and the front panel 5, which, locked together forms a wall which is sufiiciently rigid to withstand a reasonable degree of pressure without buckling. A piece of sealing tape or an adhesive seal 53 may now be placed across the bottom edge of the recess 41 adhesively connecting the area on the tuck flap located between the wings 3i and 31 with the area on the front panel 5 immediately below the recess.

Preferably, the seal 53 (or tape) is formed with a perforated score line 54 adapted to register with the underlying edges of the tuck flap 27 and the front panel 5. Thus, when the carton is opened for the first time, the seal is broken along the line 54, and with a slight inward pressure upon .the tuck iiap 27 the slots 32 and 33 are moved inwardly toward one another, permitting the locking tabs 46 and 47 to become disengaged therefrom. The cover can then be raised to permit removal of the contents. To reclose the carton, it is merely necessary to M swing the tuck flap down into place behind the front panel.

A slight inward pressure on the front panel 5 causes the tabs 46 and 47 to become interlocked with the tuck flap 27, as shown in Fig. 7, holding the cover substantially as securely as originally, save for the seal. Reopening and reelosing of the carton is efiected in the same manner as originally, except for breaking the seal.

In Fig. 9, which shows in detail the interlocking elements already described, dimension a indicates the separation between the lowermost free corners of the wings 30 and 31. This distance is preferably less than that of' dimension b, which is the distance between the upper free edges of the locking tabs 46 and 47. This is done to permit free entry of the locking tabs into the slots 32 and 33. Dimension 0 is slightly larger than dimension d to permit entry of the locking tabs 46 and 47 through the slots 32 and 33 to a locking position behind the tuck flap 27.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of the closure shown in Fig. 9, wherein the locking tabs 46 and 47 are held to a minimum length providing little flexibility thereof. This modified style of closure is found to be appropriate for certain types of carton material.

The modification shown in Fig. 10, includes a sealing tab which is formed from material of the front panel 5, and comprises a member 55 having an arcuately shaped free edge extending across the recess 41. The tab 55.

is initially closed. after being filled, the tab is caused to.

adhere to the outer face of the tuck flap 27 and the locking tabs 46 and 47 as before, enter the slots 32 and 33. The carton may then be opened by breaking the front panel along the perforated line 57, leaving the tab 55 adhering to the tuck flap 27. In this modification the dimension 0 is equal to the dimension d, frictional engagement between the sides of the front panel recess 41 and the side edges of the tab 55, together with the rearward flexing of the locking tabs 46 and 47 entered in the slots 32 and 33, serving to hold the cover in its closed position.

Fig. 11 is a modification adapted for the larger sized cartons such as a cereal carton. The wings 30 and 31 are spaced at a substantially greater distance from each other than in the preceding disclosures and a wide tab 58 is provided to be glued to the tuck flap 27. The tab 58 is substantially rectangular in shape, the top edge of the tab being parallel to the top edge of the front panel and terminating but a short distance below that edge. The tab extends the full width of the recess 41 and its sides are cut free from the sides 42 and 43 of the recess. Similarly to the modification shown in Fig. 10, the tab 58 has a perforated score line 59 extending the full distance across its base. Its purpose and function is to facilitate initial opening of the carton as described above for the example under Fig. 10.

When the cover is closed the tabs 46 and 47 enter the slots 32 and 33, as before, and the inner edges of the slots 32 and 33 enter the cuts between the ends of the tab 58 and the sides of the recess 41. The tab 53 is glued to the tuck flap, and when first opening the carton, the tab 58 is separated from the tuck flap in some such manner as by running a knife blade between them. Upon reclosing the carton, the flexing of the locking tabs 46 and 47 upon entering the slots 32 and 33, and the pinching of the tuck flap (in the region of the slots) between the ends of the tab 58 and the sides of the recess 41 is adequate to hold the cover tightly closed.

Although I have shown and described one generic form embodying my invention, together with three modified species thereof, 1 do not wish to be limited thereby, except as to that which the state of the art and the appended claims may require; for it is obvious that various other modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically in this respect, it will be apparent to those skilled in the packaging art that the size and shape of the wing members and the size and shape of the corresponding locking tongues may be varied within substantial limits without departing from the principle of the invention. Furthermore, there may be more or less wing members and locking tongues on each carton, the amount depending entirely upon the size and shape of the carton and upon the nature and weight of the contents.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a reclosable carton having vertical front, back and side panels and top and bottom panels, the top panel being hingedly connected to the top edge of the back panel and foldable across the opening defined by said vertical panels, means for releasably locking said top panel to the front panel, said means including a tuck flap connected to the front edge of the top panel, a recess cut into the top edge of the front panel, the sides of said recess being slightly divergent upwardly to facilitate engagement and disengagement with said tuck flap, slots formed in the tuck flap to receive said locking tongues, and a tab on said front panel projecting upwardly from the base of said recess in position to overlie a portion of the tuck fiap.

2. A reclosable carton according to claim 1, wherein said upwardly projecting tab is adhesively sealed to said tuck flap and is formed with an incomplete horizontal cut to provide a weakened line along which to break the seal when the carton is initially opened.

3. A carton of the class described having front, rear and side panels erected at right angles to folded bottomflaps, end flaps on the side panels folded inwardly toward one another, a top panel connected to the rear panel folded across the opening defined by said front, back and side panels, a tuck flap connected to the front edge of the top panel for insertion between the front edges of the end flaps and the inner surface of the front panel, spacedapart inclined slots with contiguous depressable wing elements formed in the tuck flap, and locking and supporting tongues formed at the top of the front panel and disposed so as to be slidably inserted without deformation into said slots by depressing the wing elements as the tuck flap is inserted in place.

4. A carton according to claim 3, wherein said slots and depressable wing elements are angularly disposed with relation to the horizontal plane of the tuck flap, and wherein said locking and supporting tongues are pressed against the inner face of the tuck fiap by the tension of said depressable wings.

5. A carton according to claim 3, wherein said slots and depressable wing elements are angularly disposed with relation to the horizontal plane of the tuck flap, and wherein said locking and supporting tongues are pressed against the inner face of the tuck flap by the tension of said depressable wings, the top edges of said locking tongues being coincident with the level of the top edge of said front panel.

6. A carton according to claim 3, wherein said slots converge downwardly, and including angular sub-cuts extending from the ends of said slots to form the wings which provide openings in the tuck panel for the insertion of said locking and supporting tongues, said locking and supporting tongues having their free upper ends extending substantially through and beyond the downwardly converging slots in said tuck flap so as to be interlocked between the wings and the tuck flap.

7. A carton according to claim 3, wherein said slots converge downwardly, and including angular sub-cuts extending from the ends of said slots to form the wings which provide openings in the tuck panel for the insertion of said locking and supporting tongues, said locking and supporting tongues having their free upper ends extending substantially through and beyond the downwardly converging slots in said tuck flap so as to be interlocked between the wings and the tuck flap, and the upper edges of said locking and supporting tongues extending up to the undersurface of the top panel, whereby the top panel is supported thereby.

8. A reclosable carton comprising a front panel cut at its top edge to form a recess therein, a back panel, side panels connecting the front and back panels, a bottom panel, a top cover panel having one edge thereof hinged to the top of the back panel, a front tuck flap hinged to the opposite edge of the top cover panel, said tuck flap being insertable at the back of said front panel, a pair of slots in said tuck flap extending from the hinge line formed at the junction of said top cover panel and said tuck fiap and converging downwardly towards each other but terminating at a substantial distance from the free edge of the tuck flap, a pair of opposed lockin tongues comprised of the walls defining the sides of said recess on said front panel and insertable without deformation in said slots formed in the tuck flap to interlock therewith and to support the top cover panel thereon, said slots defining a wedge-shaped area on the tuck flap adapted to cover said recess when said cover panel is fully seated in its closed position and to efiect the release of said interlock upon the application of pressure thereto.

9. In a reclosable carton having vertical front, back and side panels and top and bottom panels, the top panel being hingedly connected to the back panel and foldable across the opening defined by said vertical panels, means for releasably locking said top and front panels together and at the same time supporting said top panel from below, said means including a recess cut into the top edge of said front panel, a pair of opposed locking tongues whose top edges are coincident with the top edge of the front panel defining the sides of said recess, a tuck flap joined to the front edge of said top panel and defined by a score line coincident with said front edge, and means carried by said tuck flap for releasably engaging without deforming said locking and supporting tongues when the top panel is folded over said opening and the tuck flap is inserted in place behind the front panel, said tuck flap being formed with spaced-apart slots for receiving said locking and supporting tongues, and said slots being diagonally inclined from the top edge of said tuck fiap in a direction inwardly toward one another.

10. In a reclosable carton having vertical front, back and side panels and top and bottom panels, the top panel being hingedly connected to the back panel and foldable across the opening defined by said vertical panels, means for releasably locking said top and front panels together and at the same time supporting said top panel from below, said means including a recess cut into the top edge of said front panel, a pair of opposed locking tongues whose top edges are coincident with the top edge of the front panel defining the sides of said recess, a tuck fiap joined to the front edge of said top panel and defined'by a score line coincident with said front edge, and means carried by said tuck flap for releasably engaging without deforming said locking and supporting tongues when the top panel is folded over said opening and the tuck flap is inserted in place behind the front panel, said tuck flap being formed with tongue receiving slots diagonally inclined toward each other and contiguous depressable wings cut from said tuck flap, said wings being joined to the tuck fiap by score lines.

11. In a reclosable carton having vertical front, back and side panels and top and bottom panels, the top panel being hingedly connected to the back panel and foldable across the opening defined by said vertical panels, means for releasably locking said top and front panels together and at the same time supporting said top panel from below, said means including a recess cut into the top edge of said front panel, a'pair of opposed locking tongues whose top edges are coincident with the top edge of the front panel defining the sides of said recess, a tuck flap joined to the front edge of said top panel and defined by a score line coincident with said front edge, and means carried by said tuck flap for releasably engaging without deforming said locking and supporting tongues when the top panel is folded over said opening and the tuck flap is inserted in place behind the front panel, said tuck flap being formed with diagonal slots inwardly inclined toward each other, and each of said slots defining the free edge of a depressable wing for admitting one of said locking and supporting tongues behind said tuck flap as the tuck fiap is inserted into its closed position behind the front panel.

12. In a reclosable carton having vertical front, back and side panels and top and bottom panels, the top panel being hingedly connected to the back panel and foldable across the opening defined by said vertical panels, means for releasably locking said top and front panels together and at the same time supporting said top panel from below, said means including a recess cut into the top edge of said front panel, a pair .of opposed locking tongues whose top edges are coincident with the top edge of the front panel defining the sides of said recess, a tuck flap joined to the front edge of said top panel and defined by a score line coincident with said front edge, and means carried by said tuck flap for releasably engaging without deforming said locking and supportnig tongues when the top panel is folded over said opening and the tuck flap is inserted in place behind the front panel, the free edges of said locking and supporting tongues defining the sides of said recess diverging upwardly to facilitate engagement and disengagement with said means carried by the tuck flap.

13. In a reclosable carton having vertical front, back and side panels and top and bottom panels, the top panel being hingedly connected to the back panel and foldable across the opening defined by said vertical panels, means for releasably locking said top and front panels together and at the same time supporting said top panel from below, said means including a recess cut into the top edge of said front panel, a pair of opposed locking tongues Whose top edges are coincident with the top edge of the front panel defining the sides of said recess, a tuck flap joined to the front edge of said top panel and defined by a score line coincident with said front edge, and means carried by said tuck flap for releasably engaging without deforming said locking and supporting tongues when the top panel is folded over said opening and the tuck flap is inserted in place behind the front panel, the tuck flap being formed with depressable wings defined by a plurality of severance lines cut into said tuck flap and a score line joining one edge of said wings to said tuck flap, the free edge of each .of said depressable wings being disposed angularly with respect to the horizontal free edge of said tuck flap and inwardly toward each other to facilitate engagement and disengagement with said locking and supporting tongues.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

